Monthly High-Five // 022

5 things on my mind for February

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the February issue of the Monthly High-Five!

I’m writing to you from sunny San Diego…to say that I’m excited to be in flip flops is an understatement! I am sneaking in some beach time, meeting with some clients IRL (always such a special treat for me as most of my client work is virtual), and visiting some friends and family.

---

5 Things I’m Loving

I’m seeing a lot of great pieces for Spring but I feel like most of us are still in sweaters and puffers so I thought it could be nice to focus on some transitional pieces — things that you can start to incorporate now but confidently wear well into Spring/Summer.

Whenever I start to crave true Spring dressing but am stuck in cold weather, I lean heavily on shades of white. I think of whites like a winter palette cleanser — its easy to incorporate now and the color creates such a nice vibrancy to help make cozy sweaters and coats feel fresh!

1// A good “interesting” top - You know, a top that’s simple and versatile but feels cool enough to wear for a girls dinner or a date night (aka, what I get asked about all.the.time!). Perfectly gauzy and sheer to wear with a bra and the raw seams add just that right amount of detail to make it feel not-so-basic. Also comes in a silk (which I love too if you like to feel more polished - reminds me of an old Raey raw edge silk top I own and love) 2// A Phoebe Philo coded shirt - I signed up for the notification bc I’m very curious about this. A classic silhouette with a quirky cool twist. 3// A great relaxed white jean - Just ordered these to try because they look like the perfect slouchy shape which I’m always on the hunt for! Also looks great in the dark rinse. Will report back! (their Field pant is also worth a try - great fit and such a good everyday piece) 4// My go-to flat - I think these are the ones I own, if not a very similar version, and half off! Both colors are great. These are the same idea but in leather. These are my other go-to’s but more simple. 5// Nylon chic tote - I love a nylon bag for its durability and chillness. This is a new brand and I’m excited its now available at NAP. The shape is perfect with a barely there strap. I like the idea of tucking the straps in and collapsing the bag for an evening clutch look. I personally love the White but if that feels scary, the brown looks gorgeous too.

Very Phoebe Philo-influenced but I’m not mad about it

The shirt linked above reminds me of my Kallmeyer tuxedo shirt I get asked about every time I wear it. It’s an older style and is more sheer but I’d style the same way!

Retailer photos don’t do these flats justice - they are the prettiest satin so even though the color is neutral, there’s a lot of dimension. I usually don’t like bows on my flats but I make an exception for these. Super light with zero break-in required.

4 Ways To Style

As always, here’s 4 ways I’d think about styling them across end uses!

The pieces I chose are all about the fabric so they are looking a bit flat here so you may need to use your imagination lol…I think they will be so cute and chic IRL!

GAUZE TANK + SATIN FLATS + WHITE JEANS + NYLON BAG styled with: Nour Hammour Jacket, Lunya Reversible Joggers (these look so good!!) // Wolf Circus Pendant // Aureum Collective Belt(I like the idea of turning up the cuff of this jean for a more lived-in feel with the feminine flats) // Nothing Written Nylon Trench, Dorsey studs, Pistola Jeans, Saint Laurent Flats // Satin Balloon Pants, Heaven Mayhem Earring, Prada Pouch, By Malene Birger Heel

the first outfit above inspired by my go-to sweatpant look for lazy weekends!

Like this tuxedo shirt…it just looks like a basic button down but there’s TEXTURE!

BIB SHIRT + WHITE JEAN + NYLON TOTE styled with: Grey Sweatshirt, Leather Flip Flop // Prada Pouch, Jennifer Behr Collar, Saint Laurent Flats // Le Sundial Collar, Khaite Heels // Kallmeyer Leather Skirt, JujuVera Earrings, Pura Utz clutch, Manolo Blahnik Mules

3 Easy Styling Tips To Beat The Winter Blues

Tips that helped me get through last month as part of our January style challenge that took place in our Substack chat!

• Repurpose a shearling or fur collar and add to any jacket - We all probably have one attached to an old coat or vintage jacket. I find that sometimes the garment it originally came attached to isn’t exactly how we want to wear it but it could be perfect for another piece!

Exhibit A: In my moms vintage leather jacket with a repurposed shearling from my other leather jacket which sometimes feels too literal for me to wear // Exhibit B: the always inspiring Kelly Williams in her cozy collar to make a denim jacket feel new and fresh // Exhibit C: my favorite cool girl, Jordyn Scharfe, with the coolest fur headband-turned-collar!

You can also do this with a fur stole like this inspo from the last newsletter. So many good options on Etsy (try to look for vintage vs new) and I always look for these when I visit secondhand or old antique stores.

I loved this look on Jennifer Lawrence. Her fur cuffs are a tad extreme but recreate with a small baby cuff on each arm!

• Swap your sweater for a hoodie (or a hoodie for a sweater)

  One clarity moment I had during the style challenge was that I was in a bit of a sweater and jeans style rut. I always say it’s great to rewear the same things unless you stop feeling good in them. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel good in my sweaters but they were becoming an easy default on busy days and it made me miss the creativity that comes from getting dressed everyday. A simple thing I did was just swap my sweaters for an old hoodie for the week. I only ever wear this hoodie with leggings for workouts so by intentionally styling it with non-workout clothes completely shifted the vibe in my everyday clothes.

Making outfits reflect how you want to feel isn’t about big changes. It’s usually little tweaks and swaps that only you can feel and most often go unnoticed by others. These looks when worn with a hoodie instead of my usual sweaters created a more chill, sporty feel which was all I needed to get excited about getting dressed again!

• Just swap one thing - The lowest effort styling trick you can do and it seems to be something a lot of substackers have up their sleeves so you know it’s a good one! If you aren’t currently doing this, give it a try and you’ll be amazed how many new outfits and different vibes you can create by just swapping one thing.

Ok, technically I swapped two things but it’s basically the same idea! Wearing sweatpants and sneakers on the left and swapped to a white jean (essentially, the same color but a different intent) and flats. Such a small subtle swap but feelt so different to me.

2 Styling Things!

It’s been a busy month at The Found Style but here’s a quick update and fun BTS to share!

• Office Hours (1 Hour Styling Sessions)

  One of the most rewarding aspects of my job has been these Office Hours — 1 hour dedicated to anything style or wardrobe-related that you have questions on. I usually work with clients on a longer term basis so I find these sessions to be a fun and easy way to offer my services to those who may just need a quick boost of clarity and confidence. I had been offering these during a two week window every season but I know it can be hard to grab a spot if your schedule isn’t free during these times so I’m excited to share that I’ll now be releasing a handful of spots every month going forward! Yay! You can now book here whenever you need it.

• A fun BTS of what goes into a virtual 1 hour styling session

  I recently got to do a styling session with Anna Newton of The Wardrobe Edit - it was so fun and such an honor! If you’ve ever wondered what goes into a styling session, Anna does such a great job of distilling all the discussions happening in a session and the whole styling series is such a helpful read!

The Styling Session That Added Serious *Range* To My Wardrobe

1 Quote I’m Resonating With

Here’s to filling ourselves up with more of what we love and need!

Thank you for reading! Whether it’s your first time or your 100th, I truly am grateful that you are here. I’ll see you next Tuesday!

xx,

Angie